Author: Fiona Craig

Begbies Traynor Group PLC (LSE:BEG) has reported a worrying surge in business distress across the UK, with its latest Red Flag Alert revealing a 78% year-on-year increase in the number of companies facing ‘critical’ financial challenges. As of Q3 2025, 55,530 firms were identified as being in severe financial difficulty. The spike is largely driven by ongoing economic uncertainty, persistent inflation, and higher tax burdens, with consumer-facing industries such as leisure, hospitality, and retail bearing the brunt of the strain.

The report underscores growing calls for the UK government to implement pro-business measures in the upcoming Budget to prevent a broader economic downturn. Without swift policy action, insolvencies are expected to rise further, threatening employment and business confidence as many companies continue to cut back operations to stay afloat.

Begbies Traynor’s own outlook remains underpinned by steady financial performance, including consistent revenue growth and strong cash generation. However, technical indicators point to weak market momentum, and current valuation levels suggest the stock may be trading above fair value.

More about Begbies Traynor Group PLC

Begbies Traynor Group PLC is a UK-based professional services firm specializing in corporate recovery, insolvency, and restructuring. The company is widely recognized for its Red Flag Alert report, which tracks financial distress trends across UK industries. Through its advisory and restructuring services, Begbies Traynor helps organizations manage financial challenges and navigate complex turnaround situations.

Filtronic plc (LSE:FTC) has announced a strong start to fiscal year 2026, supported by major contract wins and growing momentum across its core markets. The company revealed its largest order to date — a deal exceeding £47 million with SpaceX for its next-generation GaN E-band technology — marking a major advancement in satellite communications. Filtronic also secured a £13.4 million contract with a leading European defense prime, underscoring its expanding role in defense communications.

Looking ahead, Filtronic plans to introduce new high-frequency GaN technology products in 2026, designed to meet rising global demand for secure and resilient communication networks. These developments highlight the company’s progress in strengthening its market position and advancing its strategic roadmap.

Filtronic’s performance continues to benefit from strong revenue growth and improving profitability, though technical indicators remain mixed. With a moderate valuation and stable financial footing, the company is well-positioned to capitalize on opportunities in high-growth sectors.

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Filtronic is a global leader in advanced microelectronics, specializing in the design and manufacture of mission-critical communication systems. With more than 45 years of industry experience, the company serves sectors including space, defense, aerospace, telecom infrastructure, and critical communications. Operating from two manufacturing sites and three engineering centers of excellence, Filtronic develops technology across the full RF spectrum. The company is headquartered in Sedgefield, UK, and listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.

Standard Chartered PLC (LSE:STAN) delivered a solid third-quarter performance for 2025, reporting a profit before tax of $2 billion and a return on tangible equity of 13.4%. The bank recorded a 5% increase in operating income to $5.1 billion, driven by growth in its Wealth Solutions and Global Banking divisions. While net interest income saw a modest decline, non-interest income rose 12%, supported by higher investment product sales and strong capital markets activity.

The bank’s balance sheet remains resilient, with a Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio of 14.2%. Standard Chartered reiterated its plan to return at least $8 billion to shareholders by 2026, underscoring confidence in its capital strength and long-term strategy. These results reflect the company’s disciplined execution, client-centric approach, and ability to generate sustainable financial performance across diverse markets.

Though technical indicators suggest neutral market momentum, Standard Chartered’s robust fundamentals and clear growth trajectory continue to support a favorable outlook.

More about Standard Chartered PLC

Standard Chartered PLC is a leading international banking group headquartered in London, with a well-established footprint across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The bank provides a wide range of financial services through its Wealth Solutions, Global Banking, and Global Markets divisions, focusing on meeting the cross-border and wealth management needs of its clients.

Solid State plc (LSE:SOLI), through its subsidiary Steatite Ltd, has been awarded a $10.8 million contract under Project CAIN, a key defense initiative for the UK Ministry of Defence. The agreement represents a major milestone in Steatite’s ongoing strategy to deliver advanced, mission-critical technology solutions to the UK’s armed forces.

The project will see Steatite supply ruggedized systems, including the MPU5 and Wave Relay Radio Technology, designed to enhance battlefield communication and situational awareness. This award further reinforces Solid State’s standing as a trusted provider of secure defense technologies and underscores its commitment to innovation and operational excellence within the defense sector.

Although the company continues to face pressure from softening profitability and valuation challenges — with technical indicators showing mixed momentum — its strong order pipeline and expanding defense portfolio could support a longer-term rebound.

More about Solid State plc

Solid State plc is a UK-based value-added electronics group that provides high-performance systems and components for industrial and defense applications, particularly in demanding environments. Operating through its Systems and Components divisions, the company specializes in rugged computing, secure communications, battery power solutions, imaging technologies, and electronic components. Solid State’s portfolio includes brands such as Steatite, Solsta, and Custom Power. Headquartered in Redditch, UK, the company employs over 400 staff and operates from 14 locations worldwide.

Tertiary Minerals plc (LSE:TYM) has announced that KoBold Metals has successfully completed Stage 1 of its Earn-In Agreement for the Konkola West Copper Project, surpassing the required drilling commitments. With this milestone achieved, KoBold will advance to Stage 2, which includes up to $6 million in additional exploration spending and the formation of a new joint venture between the two companies.

This progress highlights the strategic significance of Konkola West within the Central African Copperbelt and positions Tertiary to benefit from future project upside while limiting financial exposure and risk.

Despite facing ongoing financial challenges marked by losses and constrained cash flow, Tertiary maintains a solid equity foundation and continues to advance promising exploration assets in Zambia and Nevada. While technical indicators show neutral momentum, investor attention remains focused on the company’s long-term potential in energy transition metals.

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Tertiary Minerals plc is an exploration and development company focused on discovering and advancing copper and precious metal projects essential to the global energy transition. Operating primarily in Nevada, USA, and Zambia, the company targets resource growth in stable, mining-friendly jurisdictions.

Prudential plc (LSE:PRU) posted a strong performance for the third quarter, reporting a 13% rise in new business profit to $705 million and a 10% increase in annual premium equivalent (APE) sales to $1,716 million. The company attributed the growth to a continued emphasis on high-quality business, expansion of its agency network — particularly across ASEAN markets — and solid progress in its bancassurance channel.

The update underscores Prudential’s success in executing its strategic initiatives and expanding its market presence, keeping it on track to achieve its 2025 guidance and 2027 financial targets. Regional operations across Hong Kong, Mainland China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore contributed to overall performance, supported by strong partnerships and joint ventures.

Prudential’s outlook remains positive, with consistent financial strength and constructive market indicators. The group’s disciplined capital management and targeted investments continue to enhance long-term value, even amid varying regulatory and market conditions.

More about Prudential plc

Prudential plc is a leading provider of life and health insurance as well as asset management services, primarily operating in Greater China, ASEAN, India, and Africa. The company’s mission is to deliver simple, accessible financial and health solutions that build trust and long-term customer relationships. Prudential maintains dual primary listings on the London and Hong Kong Stock Exchanges, alongside secondary listings in Singapore and New York.

Pulsar Helium Inc. (LSE:PLSR) has reached a major breakthrough at its Topaz Project in Minnesota, where the Jetstream #3 well has intersected pressurized gas with a bottom-hole pressure of around 960 psi. This finding confirms the presence and continuity of the helium-rich reservoir system, supporting the geological model derived from earlier drilling results.

The discovery reinforces the Topaz field’s potential as one of North America’s most promising primary helium projects. Pulsar plans to carry out detailed evaluation and testing to further assess the reservoir’s properties and optimize future development strategies.

More about Pulsar Helium Inc.

Pulsar Helium Inc. is a publicly listed exploration and development company specializing in primary helium resources. Its flagship assets include the Topaz Project in Minnesota, USA, and the Tunu Project in Greenland. As a first mover in these regions, the company focuses on discovering and developing helium systems not associated with hydrocarbons.

Cykel AI PLC (LSE:CYK) has released its interim financial results for the six months ended July 2025, marking a pivotal move from product development to early-stage commercialization. The rollout of its flagship products, Lucy and Eve, has contributed to initial revenue growth, with Eve emerging as a key driver of the company’s commercial traction.

While marketing expenditure has remained modest, Cykel AI has concentrated on product validation and securing early adopters. The company also launched GTM AI, an innovation designed to optimize sales processes. Early feedback on GTM AI has been encouraging, though adoption is still in its early phases. Following the reporting period, Cykel AI successfully raised £2.8 million and continues to seek further funding to advance its growth initiatives, enhance GTM AI, and strengthen its operational infrastructure.

More about Cykel AI PLC

Cykel AI PLC is a technology company focused on artificial intelligence solutions for sales and recruitment. Positioned within the premium tier of the rapidly expanding AI Sales Development Agent market, the company aims to drive innovation in automating and optimizing business development functions.

Pri0r1ty Intelligence Group PLC (LSE:PR1) has issued a trading update marking its first full year on AIM, forecasting revenue to exceed £0.5 million for fiscal year 2025. The integration of Halfspace Limited and the successful launch of Metr1c have played a key role in driving revenue and accelerating the company’s growth momentum.

The group has strengthened its leadership team and outlined plans for international expansion, including a listing on the US OTCQB Venture Market, positioning the company for notable growth in FY26. Pri0r1ty has also diversified its treasury strategy by investing in Bitcoin — a move that reflects its forward-thinking approach while acknowledging the inherent volatility of digital assets.

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Pri0r1ty Intelligence Group PLC is a data, AI, and marketing services company that helps customer-focused organizations achieve scalable engagement. It operates through three key divisions: Halfspace, which delivers data-driven marketing solutions for the sports industry; Pri0r1ty, an AI SaaS platform tailored for SMEs; and Metr1c, a brand partnership and growth agency serving the entertainment sector.

Bezant Resources (LSE:BZT) has released the Feasibility Study Report for its Hope and Gorob mining venture, compiled by Sound Mining International. The comprehensive study integrates multiple technical inputs and emphasizes the planned utilization of the existing NLZM Processing Plant — a step expected to substantially cut both capital costs and development timelines.

The findings present a compelling economic outlook for the project, projecting an internal rate of return (IRR) of 62% and a net profit of approximately USD 104 million. Acquiring the NLZM Processing Plant is regarded as a key strategic decision that will simplify production processes, limit regulatory delays, and strengthen the project’s profitability, paving the way for a streamlined transition to execution.

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Bezant Resources PLC is a copper and gold exploration company dedicated to advancing its portfolio of mining projects. The firm focuses on identifying and developing high-potential copper-gold assets, leveraging strategic acquisitions and partnerships to enhance project economics and long-term value creation.